Iran official cites Persia’s defeat of Rome to frame standoff with US

Iran official cites Persia’s defeat of Rome to frame standoff with US Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei invoked the Roman emperor Marcus Julius Philippus in a pointed message directed at Washington, saying that when Rome marched east against Persia, it was ultimately forced to make peace on Sasanian terms. Baghaei, who holds a doctorate from Tehran University, has frequently referenced historical and literary figures in his public comments. In a recent opinion article, he cited the 12th-century Persian poet Farid al-Din Attar, arguing that a civilisation that “plays fast and loose with its principles” is a declining one.